Partido Popular members of Congress for the Balearics are wanting to know if the Spanish Government will be subsidising public transport in the Balearics in 2025. The government introduced 'free' transport for residents in 2023, but it is currently unclear whether it will continue to be free next year.
The Balearic minister for mobility, José Luis Mateo, said in parliament earlier this week that there was "still no news" from Madrid. He added that the regional government hasn't yet received the 43 million euros of subsidy for 2024 and has therefore had to meet all the cost of the free transport on the promise that it will be reimbursed.
Spain's transport minister, Óscar Puente, has a month to respond to questions lodged by the PP members, there having been an assumption that transport will no longer be free in 2025. The Balearic Government's budgets for next year don't take account of a free service, and nor do Palma Town Hall's.
But these budgets could always be amended, which was the case for 2024. On December 27, 2023, the Spanish Government approved the spending on subsidised transport.
At one point it did appear as if Palma had in any event rejected free transport for 2024. The mobility councillor, Antonio Deudero, was critical of the slowness in receiving the subsidy and argued that it wasn't sufficient. He still does argue this. The Balearic Government, while it has also been critical of Madrid, has been keener in maintaining the free service than Palma.
6 comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Stan The ManNo problem, good luck getting your residencia and let's hope public transport continues to be free next year.
Zoltan TeglasMany Thanks for the info.
Bryan AdamsThank you for the info. I am waiting for Residencia. I pay on the Bus. My eye sight has failed. So I can not drive anymore. But the Traffic Jams are getting progressively worse. So it is a great shame people are not leaving their cars at home. And not using Buses and Trains.
Stan The ManIt has been free for 2 years. Very hard to get people out of their cars here
Stan The ManBuses and trains have been free for Mallorca residents for the last two years and yes, a lot more people use them than before. But the frequency needs to be improved, especially at night
If the Bus travel was made free for everyone. Funded by Madrid and various taxation in Mallorca. Would this encourage people to leave their cars at home. To travel free on the Bus?. Along with an increase of Bus frequencies ,to get people to and from work, shopping etc.